Bicycle-brake



N0. 6l2,893. Patented Oct. 25, I898.

F. W. CHADWICK.

BIGYC LE BRAKE.

(Application filed Feb. 21, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT @rricn'.

FRANK IV. CIIADWVICK, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

BICYCLE-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,893, dated October25, 1898.

Application filed February 21, 1898. Serial No. 671.167- (N0 model-J Toall whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK W. CHADVVICK,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, in the county ofAdams and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Bi-'cycle-Brake, of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates to that class of bicycle and vehicle brakes whichact in conjunction with the hub of the pilot or ground wheel, so as tocheck the speed of the machine or Vehicle when it is required to bringthe same to a state of rest.

The invention is designed to provide novel connections between thebrake-band and a treadle which will admit of the brake being instantlyand firmly set when required, the treadle being disposed so as toprovide a footrest when coasting, and the connections being relativelyarranged so that when released the brake will be unset by their weight.

For afull understanding of the merits and advantages of the inventionreference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the 1 followingdescription.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form,proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing fromthe principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to afull disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of the frontportion of a bicycle, showing the brake in operative relation. Fig. 2 isa topplan View of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1, portions being brokenaway, showing the detailed construction. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail ofthe hub of the pilot-wheel, showing the elements associated therewith.Fig. 4 is a sectional detail on the line y of Fig. 2, showing thebrake-band and parts connected therewith on a larger scale. Fig. 5 is asection on the line 00 x of Fig. 2 looking to the left, as indicated bythe arrow.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The pilot-Wheel 1 is mounted upon the axle 2, which is supported at itsends'in the side members of the front fork 3, these parts heing ofwell-known construction and arrangement and illustrated to show theapplication of the invention.

A brake member 4 is secured to the hub end of the pilot-Wheel, and, asshown, is an annulus peripherally grooved forming a seat for thebrake-band 5, the latter being prevented from lateral displacement bythe side flanges formed by grooving the said brake member. Thebrake-band 5 is a strip of leather, metal, or other suitable material ofa length to pass around the annulus 4. and of a width to fit comfortablybetween the side flanges thereof. A block 6 is bolted, riveted, orotherwise firmly attached to one end of the brake-band, and the oppositeend of the said brake-band is folded to provide an eye through which apin or bolt 7 passes for conmeeting it to a plate 8 of approximatelytriangular form, the opposite end of said plate being pivotallyconnected by a pin or bolt 9 to the outer end of the block 6. A relativeturning of the plate 8 will bring the ends of the brake-band togetherand cause the latter to grip the brake member 4 with greater or lessforce according to the power expended in turning the'plate 8 upon itspivotal connection 9 with the block 6 to bring the end portions of thebrake-band together.

A journal 10 is secured to a fork side 3 and has the plate 8 mountedthereon, and an arm 11 is formed with or firmly attached to the plate 8and is secured upon the journal 10 by means of the set-screw 12. Acoupling 13, having one end cleft to receive the outer end of the arm11, to which it is pivotally connected, has its opposite end formed withan internally-threaded opening to receive the threaded end of a rod 14.The arm 11 and plate 8 are practically one part and are secured upon thejournal 10 against accidental displacement by having the inner end ofthesetscrew 12 enter a peripheral groove 1), formed in the said journal.This groove Z) extends around the journal 10 a sufticient distance togive ample play to the arm 11 and plate 8, so as to insure a setting ofthe brake when the latter is applied and a release of the brake when notrequired for immediate use. A companion rod 15 makes screw-threadconnection with a corresponding coupling 16, pivotally connected to therear end of an arm with the shaft 10.

17, secured by means of a binding-screw 18 to a shaft 19, journaled inthe same fork side The opposing ends of the rods 14 and 15 areoppositely threaded and are connected by means of a turnbuckle 23 orlike device, which will admit of the connection between the parts 11 and17 being lengthened and shortened as required.

The treadle has the shaft 19 formed therewith or applied thereto, saidshaft projecting laterally therefrom and passing through a bearing 21,fitted into an opening in the fork side 3 and secured in place by meansof a nut 22, mounted upon its projecting threaded end. The arm 17 andtreadle 20, having firm connection with the shaft 19, move in unison asa single part, and upon depressing the front end of the treadle 20 therear end of the arm 17 will be correspondingly elevated and cause thearm 11, connected therewith, to move upward at its free end and turn theplate 8, connected thereto, in the manner set forth, so as to contractthe brakeband and set the brake when required. When the foot is restingupon the treadle 20, the brake is under control and can be applied orset with greater or less force, according to the degree of pressureapplied to the rear end of the treadle. When the foot is removed fromthe treadle, the connections 17, 15, 14, and 11 gravitating will turnthe plate 8 and release the brake and hold it out of action under normalconditions. Obviously, if desired, a spring a may be provided forattaining the same end.

The treadle 20 is applied to the outer end of the shaft 19, and the arm17 has connection with the inner end of said shaft. This disposition ofthe parts distributes the strain upon opposite sides of the frame-bar towhich the shaft 19 is journaled. The bearing 21 can be readily replacedwhen worn and secures an extended surface for the shaft 19, so as toobviate binding of the said shaft, which would result if the bearingwere of a short length.

By having the arm 17 adj ustably connected by means of the binding-screw18 with the inner end of the shaft 19 the pitch of the treadle 20 may beadjusted to suit the convenience of the rider, and this adjustment maybe effected without disturbing the relation of the connections betweenthe arm 17 and the brake.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to besecured byLetters Patent, is-

1. Ina brake mechanism for bicycles and road-machines of kindredconstruction, the

combination of a brake-band encircling the hub portion of theground-wheel, a plate having pivotal connection with the frame of themachine and having end portions pivotally connected with the terminalsof the brakeband, an arm projecting from the plate and adapted to turntherewith, a shaft mounted between its ends in a bearing of themachineframe, an arm applied to the inner end of the shaft and havingconnection with the arm springing from the plate, and a treadle appliedto the outer end of said shaft, substantially as set forth.

2. In a brake mechanism for bicycles and machines of like nature, thecombination of a brake-band encircling the hub of the ground-wheel, alateral journal applied to the machine-frame in proximal relation to thehub cooperating with the brake-band and having a peripheral grooveextending part way around it, a plate having the terminals of thebrake-band pivotally connected therewith and mounted to turn upon saidjournal, a set-screw applied to said plate and having its inner endentering a peripheral groove of the journal to secure the plate inposition thereon, an arm extending from the plate and adapted to turntherewith, and means for transmitting force to said arm to turn it andthe plate upon the journal and effect an application or a release of thebrake, substantially in the manner set forth.

3. In a bicycle or like road-machine, the combination of a brake-bandencircling the hub of the front wheel, a journal applied to a forkmemberin proximal relation to said hub, a plate mounted upon saidjournal and having the terminals of the brake-band connected therewith,a pin-and-groove connection between the plate and journal to hold theplate in place and admit of its having a limited turning movement uponthe said journal, an arm applied to the plate to turn therewith, a shaftjournaled between its ends in a bearin g removably applied to the fork member having the journal, a treadle applied to the outer end of saidshaft, an arm having adjustable connection with the inner end of thesaid shaft, and connections adjustably connecting the outer ends of thearms, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signaturein the presence of two witnesses.

V FRANK W. CI-IADYVICK.

Vitnesses:

EDWARD J AHN, CHAS. A. RENNAU.

